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Retail EMS Guidance

UPDATED TO REFLECT REVISED STANDARD, ISO 14001:2015

An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a widely-used, systematic, yet flexible approach to managing compliance and improving environmental performance. The Retail Compliance Center EMS Guidance consists of explanatory modules, Excel-based tools and sample procedures that are customized for the retail industry. The guidance is based on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 standard for environmental management which follows a Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle of continuous improvement. This guidance can be used to optimize an existing EMS, pull compliance programs into an EMS framework or to develop a new EMS. It can also be used to improve a compliance program without implementing an entire EMS.

Download the EMS Guidance Modules in pdf () and the EMS Tools in Excel (​).

Getting Started

Introduces EMS concepts and covers steps for successfully implementing or optimizing an EMS.

​We did not forget an "Act Module." In the Plan-Do-Check- Act cycle, information on results and effectiveness from the Check steps is used to adjust elements in the Plan steps to improve performance. So once you finish "Check," periodically go back to the top and update your EMS.

Plan Module<div class="ExternalClass9AD93A2893F74C58AA233119FD240A73"><p>Covers the planning steps for building an EMS--Scope &amp; Policy; Environmental Aspects; Legal and Other Requirements; Objectives and Targets; and Environmental Programs.</p></div>

Do Module<div class="ExternalClassDBAFCFDD02D548F78BB2A71E2192695B"><p>​This module relates to implementation of the EMS--Roles and Responsibilities; Training; Communications; Documentation and Controls and Emergency Planning.</p></div>

Sample Procedures<div class="ExternalClass43E3C599C2CD43B2A5C94CDC813CE6F1"><p>​Sample EMS Procedures that can be modified to fit specific situations<strong>.</strong></p></div>

Act<div class="ExternalClass20C3115DF8824605AF36234CC4875224"><p>​We did not forget an &quot;Act Module.&quot; In the Plan-Do-Check- Act cycle, information on results and effectiveness from the Check steps is used to adjust elements in the Plan steps to improve performance. So once you finish &quot;Check,&quot; periodically go back to the top and update your EMS. </p></div>